#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news and notes, links and discussion, plus more or less scientific food for thought. Cubs take two out of three from the Diamondbacks and head home after a successful road trip.
WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor.
The prevailing narrative, fueled by colossal expectations of playoff glory, has it that the Cubs are coming apart at the seams. This despite an 11-7 record and meatloafing into a positive road-trip record.
They could be much better, these Cubs. But then, they could be much worse. This squad can at least take the field and hang with the big boys. By the time the tale is told, this team will be a top ten, if not top five, offense, and the defense and pitching will both be above average. They look to win 85-90 games and sneak into the playoffs.
That’s the plan. That’s the expectation. The narrow margin of possibility is why people sweat the losses.
Kyle Hendricks isn’t helping his cause or the Cubs’. It’s unknown how long the team will stick with him in the rotation. The bullpen may have some clashing gears. Ywo of the rotation’s mainstays are on the IL. Seiya Suzki is on the IL, though Alexander Canario will make that a little less painful — and what of Patrick Wisdom, who is in Iowa tearing it up?
Patrick Wisdom has come out of the game for the @IowaCubs here in the 4th inning.
Jake Slaughter pinch-hitting for him.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) April 17, 2024
There’s a lot of baseball left. Here are some game highlights:
RBI knocks from Tauchman and Gomes put us on top! pic.twitter.com/rEe2w2uV99
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2024
Cody puts a charge into this one
3-2 Cubbies! pic.twitter.com/Pcvh8ddzNC
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2024
Smoooooth, Christopher! @christopmorel5 | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/KXffe2CYit
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2024
Insurance! pic.twitter.com/O80tdt0Fhx
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2024
Michael Busch has entered the RBI group chat! pic.twitter.com/Itfd0JXTnk
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2024
Cubs win!
Final: #Cubs 5, Dbacks 3. pic.twitter.com/kqK2IEtvyk
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2024
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Craig Counsell called Hayden Wesneski’s outing today the #Cubs best pitching performance of the season. Here’s a recap of Hayden’s last 24 hours: pic.twitter.com/d2GU3IlsBI
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 17, 2024
- Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs mailbag: The Craig Counsell difference, early reads on Nico Hoerner, Cody Bellinger. “There’s not enough information available to make sweeping conclusions.”
- Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times*): Cubs have rotation decisions to make with Jameson Taillon nearing a return. “Ben Brown and Javier Assad have performed well, while veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks again struggled in Tuesday’s 12-11 loss to the Diamondbacks.”
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Could rookie Ben Brown be Chicago Cubs’ wild card in the rotation as Kyle Hendricks’ struggles continue? “My fastball is playing pretty well up here,” said Brown.
- (670 The Score): Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy on struggling starter Kyle Hendricks: ‘We know he’s going to come out of it’. From the Mully and Haugh Show. Michael Cerami has thoughts.
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cade Horton uominated once again at Double-A, So what’s the plan there? “It took him just 47 pitches to cruise through 4.0 innings of work and carve up the Rays’ Double-A squad.”
- Zach Buchanan (MLB.com*): ‘We can’t stop doing that’: Cubs drop another crazy game in Arizona. “There were defensive miscues and wild pitches, huge home runs and gut-punching bullpen meltdowns.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs bullpen already running on fumes, Kyle Hendricks looks cooked. “I think we can all agree that the Cubs need a little help.”
- Tommy Birch (Des Moines Register* {$}): Iowa Cubs infielder Luis Vazquez making strong case for promotion to MLB. “This is my year to go to the big leagues,” Vazquez said.
- Riley Cavanagh (Cubbies Crib*): This Chicago Cubs prospect has been even better than Kris Bryant. “Matt Shaw has been incredible since turning pro last summer.”
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs provide potential recovery timeline for Seiya Suzuki. “It’s a moderate right oblique strain so we’re probably looking at around 4 weeks plus or minus,” manager Craig Counsell told Taylor McGregor.
- Jon Becker (Fangraphs*): Top of the Order: Suzuki’s oblique injury strains Cubs’ depth. “Suzuki isn’t an easily replaceable player. “
Food for Thought:
Fool’s Gold May Actually Be More Valuable Than We Realizedhttps://t.co/DWP3CI6HXs
— IFLScience (@IFLScience) April 16, 2024
Whale shark feeding.
: BBC Earth pic.twitter.com/T69QgnZsiK
— Wonder of Science (@wonderofscience) April 16, 2024
Queen Bumblebees Can Survive Underwater For A Weekhttps://t.co/JPWlcV7EHc
— IFLScience (@IFLScience) April 17, 2024
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